XN000022-1989-01-09 — Page 15

MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 1989

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IN NOVEMBER 1987, MR KWAN WAS APPOINTED DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES (SPECIAL DUTIES) RESPONSIBLE FOR CO- ORDINATING ALL GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME.

IN HIS NEW OFFICE, MR KWAN WILL CONTINUE TO CHAIR THE LIVESTOCK WASTE DISPOSAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE WHICH SERVES AS A FORMAL COMMUNICATION CHANNEL BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND LIVESTOCK FARMERS.

MARINE DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE SHIP FIRE

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WILL INVESTIGATE THE SURROUNDING THE FIRE WHICH BROKE OUT ON BOARD THE SATURDAY (JANUARY 7) EVENING.

OF

CIRCUMSTANCES

"LAVIA" ON

MARINE, MR

MARINE KAU YI

THE INVESTIGATION WAS ORDERED BY THE DIRECTOR DERICK HALL, FOLLOWING AN INSPECTION VISIT WITH SENIOR DEPARTMENT OFFICERS TO THE 12,000-TONNE PASSENGER VESSEL OFF CHAU THIS (MONDAY) MORNING.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID AN INVESTIGATION NECESSARY IN VIEW OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE FIRE WHICH THREATENED SAFETY OF THE PORT.

"ACTION WILL BE TAKEN SHOULD ANY IRREGULARITIES BE FOUND CONNECTION WITH THE FIRE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THE DEPARTMENT'S PORT COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE WAS INFORMED THE FIRE ON BOARD THE PANAMANIAN-REGISTERED VESSEL AT ABOUT 6 PM SATURDAY (JANUARY 7). THE CENTRE IMMEDIATELY INFORMED THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

WAS

THE

IN

OF

ON

FIRE

OWING TO THE THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF THE PORT POSED BY THE FIRE, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO BEACH THE VESSEL OFF KAU YI LATER IN THE EVENING, THE SPOKEMAN SAID.

CHAU

THE DEPARTMENT SUBSEQUENTLY MADE ALL ARRANGEMENTS AND THE VESSEL WAS PATCH OFF KAU YI CHAU THE SAME OPERATIONS.

THE NECESSARY SUCCESSFULLY BEACHED ON A SHALLOW EVENING TO FACILITATE FIRE-FIGHTING

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE VESSEL HAD BEEN LAID UP IN HONG FOR REPAIR AND RENOVATION WORK SINCE OCTOBER 1982.

KONG

REGULAR INSPECTIONS, AT AN INTERVAL OF ONCE OR TWICE WERE CARRIED OUT BY THE MARINE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY SECTION OF

A

MONTH,

THE

DEPARTMENT.

THE VESSEL WAS LAST INSPECTED ON DECEMBER 30 LAST YEAR AND THE WORK WAS FOUND IN COMPLIANCE WITH MARINE DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS, SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THE

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